from launch complex 39 at the Kennedy
Space Center in Florida this is shuttle
launch control at t-minus 3 hours 39
minutes 49 seconds and counting
we are now in the final six hours of the
countdown for the launch of space
shuttle Columbia on mission STS 83 the
countdown is being controlled from
firing room 1 at the launch control
center and we are on schedule for
liftoff at exactly 2 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Time this afternoon this is the
22nd flight for space shuttle Columbia
and the 83rd mission of the space
shuttle program since launches began in
April 1981 sixteen years ago the primary
objective of the STS 83 mission will be
to conduct over two weeks of experiments
inside the microgravity science
laboratory space lab module which will
include experiments and protein crystal
growth materials processing combustion
experiments and plant growth experiments
the mission duration for sts 83 is
planned as 15 days 16 hours 36 minutes
and Columbia will be in a 184 statute
mile high orbit the landing is planned
to occur at the Kennedy Space Center on
the morning of April 19th at about 7:40
a.m. assuming an on-time launch today
all seven crew members
and the traditional cake with the emblem
for STS 83 and on the far end is payload
specialist Ragland grid Greg Lynn
Terrace and next to him is mission
specialist number 3 Don Thomas our pilot
for STS 83 Susan's still the commander
Jim Hall cell Mike Bernhardt mission
specialist number two and our flight
engineer Janice Voss mission specialist
number one and the payload commander and
next to her is Roger crouch payload
specialist number one
standing by now to receive video from
the astronaut quarters of the STS 83
crew suiting up we are we see our
commander Jim Hall cell there's our
pilot Susan still
second female pilot to fly the space
shuttle
Janice Voss our payload commander on
this mission
Roger Crouch will be responsible for
much of the science operations on board
the microgravity space lab my gern heart
mission specialist number two and also
our flight engineer for STS 83
and Don Thomas mission specialist
here's Greg Len Terrace
sunlight shining brightly into firing
room one here at the launch control
center at KSC where all the members of
the launch team have been on station
most of them since fueling began at the
left or 6:00 this morning and here we
see pad 39a at the edge of the Atlantic
Ocean
this is shuttle launch control at
t-minus two hours 37 minutes thirty
seconds in counting the astronauts have
arrived at the 195-foot level of the
fixed service structure where the
orbiter access arm is located this is
shuttle launch control at t-minus 2
hours 34 minutes and Counting
while we see commander Jim Hall cell
being assisted with his equipment for
entry into space shuttle Columbia
pilot Susan still now be is being
assisted with her equipment she'll be in
the right seat of Columbia
Misha specialist number two Don Thomas
is next aboard
okay tasty DLC you wanted it step 5
my medley be another one yeah LT had to
deal to clear a good morning Susan
mission specialist Janice Voss now being
assisted with her flight suit
she's a mess number one and will be the
payload commander on this flight payload
specialist Roger Crouch now preparing to
enter Columbia
Misha specialist Mike Bernhardt now
being assisted to prepare for his entry
into Columbia
fs3 this is OTC I have your last
clearance also Thanks
like that
I could add safety values go stop it at
lanes weather copy that copy and
Columbia will be picking up moment
clearly you guys have a great mission
and we'll see you back here in two weeks
NTD you're clear to launch and now we'll
be checking the flight controls on the
orbiter zero surface profile test
vehicle will go back to internal power
at about ten seconds coming up on t
minus three minutes 23 seconds were now
gimbley three main engines checking
their steering capability go to close
and lock your visors and make sure you
go to slow and enjoy your on orbit
ignition sequence start five four three
two one and liftoff of space shuttle
Columbia with the microgravity science
laboratory our research bridge to the
space benefits of tomorrow
Roger roll Columbia Houston is now
controlling Columbia is rolling on
course for the 160 nautical mile high
orbit inclined plane 1/2 degrees to our
seat better tell me are you traveling
300 miles per hour
back to 2/3 throttled the spacecraft
capacity area maximum air pressure and
go supersonic
altitude now two and a half miles one
and a half miles east of the launch pad
Columbia is traveling 650 miles per hour
Columbia go at throttle up Columbia's
three main engines now back at full
throttle all systems on board in good
shape
cumbia speed now 1,500 miles per hour
altitude 12 miles one minute to 55
seconds since liftoff my controller is
standing by in the next a few seconds
for burnout and jettison of the twin
solid rockets
booster officer confirms good separation
of the solid rocket s-- columbia
performance is nominal
this is Mission Control Houston this
view shows the inside of the Space Lab
module the microgravity science
laboratory 1 and go ahead for Space Lab
and that's affirmative we have a great
view of Space Lab we've got it all set
up for your entry Janis ok
yes Janice we had one Delta and that
concerned the fact that there's a
circuit breaker that needs to be turned
on on rack for that's our 4w that's epsp
number four and the circuit breaker is
DC one and we need it to be turned on in
order to power up VCRs three and four
later on